About Puppy Raising
The Puppies
The Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) Canine Development Center is located in Patterson, NY. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers are selectively bred to promote the qualities required of a guide dog and to minimize genetic-based health problems. Each puppy is tested at 7 to 9 weeks of age to provide the Canine Development Center staff with an initial indication of the puppy's personality and confidence. Those puppies that show potential of having the traits necessary to become a guide dog are matched with puppy raisers.
When the dogs are about 17 months old, the puppy raiser returns their confident, obedient, and well-mannered dog to the GEB Training Center for evaluation. Dogs that pass the “In For Training” test and the medical evaluations begin a 6-month program with the professional trainers at the Training Center to master the skills required of a guide dog.
The Raisers |
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Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) depends on volunteer puppy raisers to provide safe, loving homes for future guide dogs. Anyone who has the desire to share their heart and their time can be a puppy raiser. Puppy raisers can be individuals or families, and many of our puppy raisers have children and personal pets. Puppies usually stay with the raiser for 13 to 14 months. The puppy raiser provides obedience, social skill, and life experience training. Exposure to a broad range of experiences, appropriate to each stage of the dog’s life, is crucial to developing a confident, adaptable dog. 
Puppy raisers must adhere to GEB rules and standards to provide consistent training, to secure the safety of the dog, to protect personal property, and to prepare the dog for the conditions inherent to a career as a guide dog. Puppies are to be kennel trained (kennels are provided by GEB). Pups/dogs must be supervised and must always be on a leash or in a fenced area when outside the home. GEB pups/dogs are not to be fed people food as “treats,” are not permitted on furniture, and are taught to be well mannered in social situations and to ride quietly in a car on the floor in front of the passenger seat.
In the Shenandoah Region, puppy raisers with their pup/dog are required to attend weekly classes the first four months and thereafter twice a month classes. The purpose of puppy classes is to provide support to the puppy raiser learning how to work with their puppy and ensures pups are progressing. Classes allow an opportunity for the pup to think, learn and work with you in the presence of other puppies. Time is set aside during class to answer raisers questions. Pups/dogs and their raisers participate in quarterly Walk and Talks to assess progress. The puppy raiser is responsible for the expenses associated with pup/dog maintenance (food, treats, toys, etc) and travel to class and Region events, and GEB is responsible for approved veterinary expenses and for travel of the dog to the GEB Canine Development Center and Training Center.